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New Seasons extends more support to local start-ups

New Seasons Market is doing more to get local products into their stores.

The company, with 10 Portland stores, last week announced the expansion of Local Finds, a program that resells small-scale local vendors products.

Its six-month pilot this spring collected nearly 100 products, including cultural dishes, gluten-free baked goods and even cycling hats that are distributed in New Seasons Markets.

While we are proud of Local Finds, its really not a new idea for New Seasons Market. Weve been working in partnership with local farmers, cooks, and crafters for the last fourteen years, says John Boyle, New Seasons Markets director of merchandising and buying. We created the Local Finds program as a way to maximize what we were already doing.

Local Finds helps start-up companies with FDA approvals, packaging, marketing and streamlining. These include Red Duck Ketchup, an organic ketchup company started by University of Oregon students, and Chedz, a cheese-snack company with three flavors: spicy, mild and gluten-free.

Chedz started as a snack I would make for my family and friends. They loved it and kept asking for more. When I decided to try to take the product to market, I knew I was going to need some help, says Susan Hall, Local Finds vendor and creator of Chedz, which is sold under Hall Brands, LLC. The New Seasons Local Finds program has been a very positive experience, and is such a clear expression of the companys focus on helping small, local vendors. Everyone Ive worked with has been a champion for Chedz. We started selling at the Williams store the first week of December, and today we are in seven stores and hope to grow to all 13 soon.

To submit a product, visit the Solutions Counter inside New Seasons Markets or check it out online.

Julia Rogers can be reached at 503-546-5137 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..